Acronyms CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CR Critically endangered DAFF Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries DEA Department of Environmental Affairs EDRR Early Detection and Rapid Response (programme dealing with invasive alien species) EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EIA Environmental impact assessment EN Endangered FEPA Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature KZN KwaZulu-Natal LT Least threatened METT Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool for protected areas METT-SA Global Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool adapted for use in South Africa MPA Marine protected area NBA National Biodiversity Assessment NBF National Biodiversity Framework NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NFEPA National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas project NPAES National Protected Area Expansion Strategy NSBA National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment OMPA Offshore Marine Protected Area project PES Payments for Ecosystem Services SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute SAPIA Southern Africa Plant Invader Atlas VU Vulnerable WfW Working for Water WMA Water Management Area National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: An assessment of South Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems Synthesis Report By Amanda Driver1, Kerry J. Sink1, Jeanne L. Nel2, Stephen Holness3, Lara van Niekerk2, Fahiema Daniels1, Zuziwe Jonas1, Prideel A. Majiedt1, Linda Harris4 & Kristal Maze1 With contributions from Lara Atkinson5, Mandy Barnett1, Tracey L. Cumming1, John Dini1, John Donaldson1, Michelle Hamer1, Stephen Lamberth6, Amanda T. Lombard4, Philip Ivey1, Jeffrey Manuel1, Namhla Mbona1, Guy Midgley1, Michele Pfab1, Domitilla Raimondo1, Tamara Robinson7, Ernst R. Swartz8, Jane K. Turpie9, Lize von Staden1 & Andrew Wannenburgh10 Reviewer: Belinda Reyers2 1 South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) 2 Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) 3 South African National Parks (SANParks) 4 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 5 South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) 6 Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) 7 Stellenbosch University 8 South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) 9 Anchor Environmental Consultants 10 Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) ii Technical editor: Alicia Grobler (SANBI) Design & layout: Sandra Turck (SANBI) Cover design: Sandra Turck (SANBI) Cover photo (background): Peter Chadwick Citing this publication Driver A., Sink, K.J., Nel, J.N., Holness, S., Van Niekerk, L., Daniels, F., Jonas, Z., Majiedt, P.A., Harris, L. & Maze, K. 2012. National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: An assessment of South Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems. Synthesis Report. South African National Biodiversity Insti- tute and Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria. ISBN 978-1-919976-72-3 Copyright © 2012 by Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) . All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the copyright owners. The authors and publishers have made their best efforts to prepare this book, and make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents herein. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned and no responsibility is accepted by the publishers or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure the credits accurately comply with the information supplied by the authors. iii Foreword t is a proud moment to present South Africa’s National Biodiversity IAssessment 2011, a product of high scientific calibre led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The NBA was developed in close consultation with the Department of Environmental Affairs and its national partners. Building on the National Spatial Biodiver- sity Assessment of 2004, the NBA 2011 uses cutting edge science and techniques to provide a comprehensive picture of South Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems across the landscape and seascape, from terrestrial (land) and freshwater to estuarine and marine environ- ments. This assessment hopes to capture the challenges and opportunities embedded in South Africa’s rich natural heritage by looking at bio- diversity in the context of social and economic change and recognising the relationship between people and their environment. We are all familiar with the concept of service delivery and the challenges we grapple with in making sure all citizens receive essential services. What we are sometimes less familiar with is the notion that it is not only municipalities that provide services, but also our biodiversity and ecosystems. While we are aware of our built infrastructure like roads, sewers and pylons, and the services they bring to us in our homes, few of us are aware of the services we get from our ecological infrastruc- ture like wetlands, mountains, rivers, coastal dunes and vegetation. These services, called ecosystem services, include basic services like fresh water, firewood and fertile soils for agriculture; but they also include more complex services that regulate water flows and protect us from extreme events associated with climate change, such as floods, droughts and fires. Ecosystem services, like municipal services, play an essential role in supporting social development and economic prosperity. In relating social and economic concerns to environmental ones, we challenge the notion that there nec- essarily is a trade-off to be made between faster economic growth and the preservation of our environ- ment. We suggest instead that good environmental management coupled with integrated development planning will allow us to build a low carbon economy that supports resilient ecosystems and economies. Healthy intact ecosystems give us more options for responding to climate change, alleviating poverty and building a green economy. Taking stock of what we have and where we are, allows us to be proactive and make informed decisions about future land-use planning at various scales for South Africa’s optimal fast-tracked growth path. Our message is simple: our vast wealth of biodiversity—our variety of life from genes, species and eco- systems—offers us a suite of natural solutions in the face of unemployment, rising poverty and climate change. This message is relevant for all from rural to urban, rich and poor. We need to step up our efforts to protect our biodiversity to allow it to support South Africans—present and future generations included. BOMO EDITH EDNA MOLEWA MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS iv v Contents in brief Executive summary ....................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................23 2. Key highlights ........................................................................................................ 31 3. Ecosystem threat status and protection level ............................................................. 37 4. Terrestrial ecosystems ............................................................................................. 47 5. River ecosystems .................................................................................................... 61 6. Wetland ecosystems ............................................................................................... 73 7. Estuarine ecosystems ..............................................................................................83 8. Marine and coastal ecosystems ............................................................................... 93 9. Resilience of biodiversity to climate change ............................................................ 109 10. Species of special concern ..................................................................................119 11. Invasive alien species ......................................................................................... 133 12. Spatial biodiversity priority areas and priority actions ........................................... 148 13. Knowledge gaps and research priorities for strengthening the NBA ....................... 167 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. 173 Glossary .................................................................................................................. 177 vi Contents Foreword ..........................................................................................................................................iii List of figures .................................................................................................................................. viii List of tables .....................................................................................................................................xiv List of panels ....................................................................................................................................xiv List of boxes ..................................................................................................................................... xv Online resources ..............................................................................................................................xvi